Krop’s comment came in an interview last week, as she discussed the latest bid by EDC and PXP to gain approval for a new lease for the firm to drill in state waters off the northern Santa Barbara coast, in exchange for a host of environmental concessions. The company’s promises include setting specific future dates for the T-Ridge project—along with drilling from three existing platforms in federal waters off Point Conception—to shut down.

Similar EDC-PXP attempts failed twice last year, when the State Lands Commission and, later, the state Assembly defeated proposals to grant the company a state lease, which would be the first issued by California since Santa Barbara’s disastrous 1969 Union Oil spill. A confidential agreement between EDC and PXP, signed in April 2008, established the terms for the proposed lease; one of the strongest arguments by opponents, both at the Lands Commission and in the Legislature, was that long-established state policy should not be changed on the basis of a secret document.

“The fate of public lands cannot be decided in contracts negotiated behind closed doors,” Controller John Chiang, member of the Lands Commission, said last year, explaining his vote against the lease in a comment that captured the sentiment.

Last week, I obtained a copy of the previously undisclosed agreement (a longer story on its contents can be found at calbuzz.com), then met with Krop, who negotiated it on behalf of environmentalists. Sitting at the desk in her cramped and cozy Garden Street office, Krop:

• Disclosed that EDC and PXP have put together a revised agreement, aimed at addressing the key criticisms made about the project when it lost last year, including a toughening of language to enforce end dates in 2022 for drilling at T-Ridge and the federal Point Arguello Project off Point Conception.

• Revealed that her group’s first agreement was kept confidential at the request of PXP, which feared that industry competitors would find useful proprietary information in it, and that the company has agreed with EDC to make the new agreement public, if and when the Lands Commission sets a date to rehear the application.

• Confirmed that EDC received $100,000 in payments from PXP for legal work done in negotiating the first settlement, and that EDC agreed to testify and publicly support the company’s project in exchange for concessions on drilling and other environmental issues.

“For environmentalists, it’s never been about the money, it really has been about ending current oil production and stopping future oil production,” Krop said. “The reason we advocated for this is because we want the end dates [for offshore oil drilling]. We want the benefits of the agreement.”

The T-Ridge project, on which she began working in 2007, has brought her harsh criticism from some environmental advocates, and strained and broken some longtime personal and professional relationships with erstwhile allies. When she speaks about it, Krop does so with almost evangelical fervor.

“All I can do is speak the truth, and if people want to say something else and people want to ignore what I’ve given them,” she said at one point, “I can’t help that. I can only speak the truth.”

She said environmentalists who oppose the deal with PXP “are perpetuating oil drilling if they continue to stop this proposal,” and blamed any public perception that the project would open the door to more drilling on foes that have mischaracterized the project for unspecified “political reasons.”

“That perception is based on people telling mistruths,” she said, naming Assemblymember Pedro Nava, among others. “They created that perception, they made up that perception. … They’re telling people this is opening the door [to more drilling] when in fact this is closing the door.”

Asked to respond, Nava said: “The State Lands Commission rightfully rejected the EDC/PXP proposal because it is unenforceable and because of the precedent it would set, signaling to the federal government and the drill-baby-drill crowd that California waters were open for business and that offshore oil drilling was welcome. I am proud to stand with Congressmember John Garamendi, California Controller John Chiang, the California Assembly, the California Democratic Party, and more than 100 environmental groups and coastal protection advocates from both coasts in opposition to the California Sanctuary Act-bustin’ EDC/PXP deal.”

Krop contines to accuse those who oppose her of telling "mistruths" but so far I haven't seen anything specific and everything I have read says she has been the one with the "mistruths".Mistruth 1- She claims this will end drillingFact: The State AG and the State Lands Commission attorneys say it is not enforceable. Were they telling "mistruths"?

Mistruth:2- She claims that the agreement will result in the shut down of the Gaviota processing facilityFact: the agreement says that PXP will transfer the lands of the site, IF FEASIBLE. PXP has partners and it can only vote for the shutdown and transfer but it cannot guarantee it. Since we have no idea what their partnership agreements state we cannot assume this will actually happen (page 13-14)

Mistruth 3: Krop says that all 4 Pt Arguello Platforms will be shut down and abandoned. Fact: The agreement specifically states PXP cannot shut down the 3 platforms they do not own (page 16)

Mistruth 4 : Krop states she did this because she believes in the projectFact: Just like any other paid lobbyist, that's not what motivates her. In addition to the $50,000 bonus if the State Lands Commission approves the project EDC gets additional payments, amount unspecified, for any additional representations she makes to agencies supporting the project. That sounds like a lobbyist to me (10-11).

Thanks to Jerry Roberts for continuing to report on this issue, which is the centerpiece of the upcoming Assembly race. If he is to be believed, the only reason Das Williams jumped in to run against Susan Jordan is to support this secret backroom deal between PXP and the EDC. Since the EDC seems to be the only "environmental" group in the state supporting this unenforceable deal--and profiting quite handsomely from it--many more questions arise about their cheap sell-out, his candidacy, and just who they now represent. As a former supporter of both, I never imagined the Ex-environmental Defense Center or Das Williams in the same camp with Cheney, Schwarzenegger, Palin and the rest of the "drill, baby, drill" crowd.

Let us look at the facts and ignore the paid lobbyist contractually obligated to stump for PXP (and her own organization's financial gain) for a second.

PXP, if given the first offshore oil lease in 40 years, claim they will let it expire in 2022 and will somehow get the three other Pt Arguello platforms they don't control to close down too. Their adherents claim that the federal MMS overseeing the leaseholds, as part of the Code of Federal Regulations, allows that if a leaseholder wishes, they can end drilling. However, to do this they must pay the federal government for the value of the unharvested resource -- a number that is unknowable at this juncture. Please tell us that this deal can compel PXP to pay this undetermined figure? Show me the language, please.

The above-mentioned paid lobbyist firm on Garden Street have claimed the contract with PXP is enforceable. Yet, remember, it is between private parties and is not binding on MMS or the State. Say PXP has second thoughts. Imagine that oil might be worth double what it is today. Enforcement would require a breach of contract lawsuit by EDC which is unlikely to result in the courts ordering PXP to stop drilling, particularly if the State allows them to continue. Does anyone believe that if the State has been receiving funds for 14 years they will not allow the drilling to continue?

The TRUTH that is spoken by the above-mentioned lobbyist is that they await the possibility of revisiting the State Lands Commission with a more-oil-compromised stand-in for now Congressmember Garamendi. Hoping the future Lieutenant Governor will not be so interested in the details.

A competent lobbying position, but please, enough with the spirit of saving the world... No new drilling and no EDC-PXP-trust-us-deals...!

Maybe the County should pay $100,000 to EDC to support the saving of Goleta Beach. At least we now know their principles can be bought. Enough already. If you support environmental causes, donate to anyone but EDC. This only shows they are dishonest when it comes to their intentions and are driven by money, not principles. Boycott all Support for EDC now and forever.

Thanks Jerry for another good one.Here is a for-profit corporation (NYSE:PXP) paying "reasonable compensation" to legal experts to support two non-profit corporations that wish to contractually constrain the long-term development of several offshore oil leases -- leases that would be developed by the same oil company. Apparently the environmental groups and their donor bases did not think it was worth having independently-financed representation for CPA/GOO in this matter, but either way I was shocked that the expertise and long-term commitment of an established and prominent environmental attorney on behalf of an oil producer could be purchased so inexpensively. I bet PXP's own attorneys and public relations firms were paid at least an order of magnitude more. Neither of the non-profit corporations party to this agreement have any authority over offshore hydrocarbon resource production associated with the leases, creating a large and obvious mechanism by which PXP (or perhaps some unsavory successor) could forestall for many, many years the actual production shut-down, as well as the onshore restoration or land-transfer commitments. I'm sure I'm not the first to notice there are no impoundments of early project income to a long-term (post-operation) oversight/remediation/stewardship trust. The lasting value of this agreement seems far too uncertain.

Oh come on now! This is not a black and white situation. It is totally out of line to call EDC "the PXP lobbying firm". they have been holding the line on protecting our coast from oil, gas, and development for DECADES...and you know it. They are at every hearing on oil and gas and unilaterally oppose efforts to open our coast to drilling. Does anyone really think Linda Krop did not have the best intentions in mind by working with PXP to try and end their drilling at some defined point? This is the ONLY example you will find of EDC working out a compromise with this huge industry. C'mon, "drill baby drill?" Linda would annihilate Sarah Palin in any debate with her entire brain tied behind her back. To make that comparison isn't just apples and oranges....its kindergarden logic. Bashing Linda doesn't get you anything but Bad Karma points for dissing one of the strongest defenders of our coast.

Pedro and Susan are also champions of the coast, and can not be blamed for taking a different view on this project and the proposed deal. They are both heroes for their history of work and we love them. Many enviros agree with them that "just say no" is the best option and it certainly is the easiest position to take. What SUCKS is this has become another way to divide the environmental community, when we should be united against oil and gas and burning of fossil fuels. United we Stand, Divided we fall, folks. For anyone to claim EDC is driven by money is just totally insane. I hate to break it to you, but if they were truly lobbyists for the oil companies, they would be making more than 100K. Get a grip Santa Barbara. Reunite. Build back trust. We all want drilling to end, and EDC has done hundreds of things to bring that closer to reality. attacking them, pigeonholing them, and dragging them through the mud over a deal to ultimately end drilling is dirty and shortsighted politics. if you believe the PXP deal could never be enforced, then thank Susan and Pedro for their work and you know who to vote for in 2010. But seriously, look at the bulk of Linda's work/career and EDC's long history of coastal victories and honor their commitment to protecting the central coast.

Once Pedro and Susan made this the centerpiece issue to their political campaigns, they got stuck. They're stuck painting Williams as an "opportunist" and are unable to change their political posturing, which shows their unhealthy style of campaigning and type of character.

"EDC took action to secure a contract that achieves their core goals – reduce the number of platforms actively operating along the coast. The modest amount of compensation they received seems proof positive that they were acting in conviction of their beliefs and not for some other nefarious reason as has been alleged in this forum by bloggers who appear to have a politically vested interest. A lot of angry words aimed at EDC have been posted on this topic over the last few weeks – but the reality is that none of those words come close to achieving the same level of accomplishment that EDC would if their contract takes effect.

After reading the outline of the agreement – it seems the only real question to debate is how likely is it that the federal government is going to use eminent domain authority to take over all the oil property to get it running? Seems like a pretty far fetched concept."

But Pedro and Susan won't back down now. They're politically committed. When Pedro got caught painting a false picture for political gain and got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, he hid behind the big crowd of government agencies who made the same mistake, rather than apologizing and moving on.

beachkat? Sorry to burst your little bubble, but $100,000 paid to EDC by PXP on an agreement that is not enforceable is not small potatoes. Raise your hands everyone out there that think $100,000 is a petty sum of money??? Closed door deals with an oil company??? You actually believe in your head this is ok for an environmental agency to do?? There are many organizations that protect the environment. GOO has been around a lot longer than EDC and never have I heard of them or any other environmental group in Santa Barbara County take money.

Do you believe in the tooth fairy too?

Boycott EDC. Give to Get Oil Out, Sierra Club, or anyone else who have not sold out.

Well said, beachkat. And BeachFan, I agree that people should donate to GOO, but should remind you that GOO was one of the parties in the agreement. What "bought" these groups was the promise of environmental benefits. Believe it or not, there are actually altruists in this world, and some of them live right here. You can argue about whether they had good judgment in this instance, but never doubt that they were trying to do the right thing.

This dialog is unfortunate.Those who seek to fan the flames of conflict withing the environmental movement are not friends of the movement.Jerry Roberts is playing a dangerous hand here. Time will prove if this is wisdom or no. It is important to recognize that the environmental movement has evolved. Environmentalists are not on the fringe anymore. We are now the mainstream. As such, the movement needs to adapt its strategy and tactics to best leverage its new position. Of course there will be disagreement on how best to proceed. But please consider: Who will benefit if the movement tears itself apart with hasty judgments and angry words when there is a disagreement about strategy? GOO, the EDC and CPA have been on the front lines against the biggest oil corporations in the world for over 4O years on behalf of Santa Barbara. Please people, in the rush to judge...check yourself, before you wreck yourself.

Anthony York, over at “California Politics,” the online collaboration between the LAT and Capitol Weekly, posted a juicy little report on the spat between Lite Gov. Wannabe Abel Maldonado and Assemblyman Pedro Nava over Calbuzz’s idée fixe, the Tranquillon Ridge offshore oil project.

Lobbying in print for his confirmation. state Senator Maldo reminded York of his past consistent opposition to the project, insisting the offshore issue should not derail his appointment:

“I’ve voted against the proposal three times,” Maldonado said. “As lieutenant governor, I would take each issue as it comes before the commission, but I don’t know how much clearer I can be on that issue.”

Maldo also ripped Assemblyman and AG Wannabe Nava (D-Tree Hugger), who told Calbuzz earlier that he believes the Republican senator pledged support for T-Ridge before Schwarzmuscle nominated him for lite gov.

“It’s so crazy,” said Maldonado. “No deal has been cut.” Nava is “spreading stories that have absolutely no basis in fact.”

When asked about Maldonado’s comments, Nava said, “It’s hard for me to believe there wasn’t an agreement reached” between Schwarzenegger and Maldonado. “Let him sign a written public pledge that he will vote no on T-Ridge. Then I might feel some comfort.”

This just in:

T-Ridge foes were caught by surprise when the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended Thursday that the Legislature approve the project. While it’s a fairly tepid endorsement, coming after a laundry list of policy criticisms of the proposal, it’s an endorsement nonetheless, and from a very influential source:

While the Legislature will want to evaluate the proposal accounting for the policy concerns that have been raised, it should weigh these concerns against the opportunity to gain much-needed revenues for the General Fund. Analyzing the potential risks and trade-offs, we find, on balance, that the Tranquillon Ridge proposal merits legislative approval."

What do psychologists call it when someone makes up their own reality and hopes it's real?

This is a the disturbing behavioral pattern that I don't want my attorney general to possess. It appears Linda Krop has had to endure this type of behavior from Nava. A tough job indeed. Hang in there Linda Krop. When the smoke clears, your work will continue to shine bright.

Georgy, find us a politician in the state who doesn't accept contributions from Indian tribes. They all do. The Republicans are the very worst. Nava takes less than most.

Can't blame Nava for being skeptical about Republicans and Oil. He has history on his side.

EDC may be savvy about some things, but not about politics. This was a mistake from start to finish. EDC wanted it kept secret as much as PXP did because they knew the payments would look bad. They are all alone in the enviro community now with their support of this.

So what's new? I believe there was a secret agreement between the proponents of Bacara and local environmental groups. The local environmental groups got a fair amount of cash in that case too.

And Jerry, you might note, UCSB won't pay that kind of money. Kinda gives a fresh perspective on how things really work around here... private interests have big bucks to hand out, and get their projects. Public agencies like UCSB experience sustained opposition that is not punctuated by $ transfers that open the doors to development.

You are all missing an important point. The agreement calls for reimbursement under section 1.6 for work EDC has done for GOO! and CPA. I want to see the agreement between EDC and PXP for work EDC is doing for PXP. Think there isn't one? Think that PXP only paid EDC a measly $100,000 to get this agreement? Yes, for work for GOO! and CPA but not for EDC's own work for PXP, lobbying, etc. Very clever way to hide the ball. Who would think to ask if there is another agreement? Only another lawyer...and EDC is laughing all the way to the bank.

You are a legaleagle!I also heard that the EDC was being bribed by the Martian Consulate to sell out to the Plutonians on their protection of the Moons of Jupiter!Plus, "some say" that Brangelina will offer up a human sacrifice in honor of passage of the agreement! WOW!

Pedro and Susan think they are getting a two for one - Pedro is pandering to the statewide enviros to help his AG campaign and Susan is tagging along as usual.

What does the Nava/Jordan family do when Pedro gets worked by Harris, Delgadillo, Torrico, Lieu, Kelly, etc and Das beats Susan by 20 points? Their last hold on any sort of influence is Pedro's spot as Chair of Asm. Banking and Finance - once that gig is up he and Susan are politically irrelevant.

Jerry, one thing we dont hear a ton about on PXP is public polling. Are there any numbers for the central coast or how Dems break on the issue?

On polling: The only polling I’m aware of on the issue was done last year by Fairbank Maslin, Maullin & Associates, a reputable firm paid by PXP to do a survey. A summary sheet of their findings showed support for the T-Ridge project after poll respondents were “educated” about it, as the political professionals say. The findings are discussed at the company’s web site on the project which is here. http://www.t-ridgefacts.com/t-ridge-p...

Phil Trounstine, my partner in Calbuzz, is a former pollster who ran the survey center at San Jose State University for several years, and we’ve published several discussions about research methodology, including this piece - http://www.calbuzz.com/2009/08/2515/ - which also ran in the L.A. Times.

A key issue is that PXP has refused to make public the actual data underpinning their survey – the complete list of questions, question order and cross-tabulations – citing proprietary concerns, which I wrote about last fall for the Indie here http://tinyurl.com/yzsmfzr.

After PXP e-blasted a summary of its poll around the state, Nava picked a fight with the company and sent out a series of press releases raising questions about its methodology and demanding they release all their data, which they have not done. We covered that at Calbuzz here http://tinyurl.com/ydgblhz and here http://tinyurl.com/y87qh9t

Just like the confidential EDC/PXP agreement, now public only because Jerry Roberts through Calbuzz has made it available, the so-called "poll" paid for by PXP is secret too. I tried to get PXP to disclose their poll so that we could fairly evaluate their allegations-but they weren't having any of that. Consequently-when you hear about their "poll"-take it with a bag, not a pinch of-but a big bag of salt. Here is a link to my questions of PXP trying to find the truth.

This is a company that tried to shoehorn their offshore oil drilling deal through the budget (they never wanted the scrutiny of State Lands) hoping no one was watching. But the Assembly and a coalition of environmental groups stopped them. I am proud of my role in defeating them.

And when Speaker Karen Bass refused to be a party to the wholesale obliteration of decades of California's coastal protection policies that would have resulted from an OK to the EDC/PXP deal, the Governor punished her by de-funding a program for sick African-American children. Don't take my word for it, it was reported in the Los Angeles Times. And these are the folks we are supposed to embrace as they seek approval to drill about 30 new wells into our state waters. No Thanks.

EDC's previous good work on fighting offshore oil doesn't matter if this goes through they will have undone everything from the past for money. PXP doesn't need another contract to pay EDC for lobbying, the current one says that if they are asked by PXP to "make representations" for them to governmental agencies they will be paid "reasonable fees", amount unspecified. You can bet that Hanna Beth Jackson, who is now a lobbyist for EDC, is being paid by those "reasonable fees". EDC should tell us how much they have been paid beyond the 100K.

If you really knew your history, you would never say such things. You obviously don't know enough about the EDC's past, or present. However, it is difficult to learn (or hear) when your mouth is always open. Please try to listen a little more in this process. You may actually learn something.

Okay people, stop with all your righteous bull! Those platforms are already there! My husband works out on the California Platforms and my dad did it my entire life until he passed away 2 years ago. There is so much natural seepage that is coming out of the ground, why not get in there and use it to our advantage?. We have such high gas prices and YES if we tapped into the T-Ridge project or any of the other projects that are in the works right now and waiting for final approval...which apparently you all don't know about....it would help our economy SO much! Do you all really care about who is getting paid what between companies? There are dirty politicians EVERYWHERE! We all know it! Yes there are secret deals going on behind closed doors....there always it! Whether your a democrat, republican, green party, independent....there is always something going on somewhere that not everyone knows about! Seriously stop debating who is right and who is wrong! There is no clear cut answer on this! There will always be someone that has to have the last word! Don't you people care about the future generations? I have two small children, and my family is about to lose EVERYTHING because of how bad this economy is! With outrageous gas prices, no jobs, high grocery costs because of fuel prices, what are we going to do? Sorry that the platforms are not "pretty" to look at! They are already there, let them go in and do what they have to do to help our country and by 2022....they are donating the land, the platforms for historical use, and much much more! And yes, the T-ridge project is only about these three platforms, and yes the other platforms off the California coast will still be going, but at least take the first step in the right direction to help our economy out! New Jobs and lower fuel prices.There are even natural reefs that are below each platform that were put there for the sea life. Don't you people get it? Look past all the political BULL and look at the big picture! WE NEED HELP! Stop being so righteous and help your country out!